Battery Tester

[Obie]

ZTS MULTI BATTERY TESTER

Questions, questions.............

What do you guys think of this for checking and pairing batts?

What can this tell me that a volt meter can't and do I really need it?

If so, is there anything cheaper out there?


Cheers, Obie

 

[sadtranz]

Hi Obie

Would say save your money and buy a cheap voltmeter all you you need is a ohm & volt setting which they all have
if your useing 2 batteries try to match them but you will allways find one usually the bottom ie spring end will rundown first so keep an eye on them once down to 3.2v check regularly

 

[Obie]

Thank you Sadtranz,

I have a voltmeter so I'll save my money, when you say ohm setting, is that just for checking the atty resistance or can it be used somehow to check the batts? Just want to make sure I'm not missing something.

 

[sadtranz]

Thank you Sadtranz,

I have a voltmeter so I'll save my money, when you say ohm setting, is that just for checking the atty resistance or can it be used somehow to check the batts? Just want to make sure I'm not missing something.

Yes just atty's good tip if you buy standard atty's use at 3.7v when resistance (ohms) goes up after a couple of weeks use at 6v gives it an extended life

 

[Lisaf01]

yep, save your money and use your multimeter instead.

I think the resistance goes up when the atty coil is a bit clogged up after use - I also switch to 6V with the performance tails off and you can usually get a few more days out of the atty.

 

[Obie]

Thanks guys

 

[Lisaf01]

hehehehe, I really wanted one of those testers too, but not cos I needed it - I just wanted a new gadget to play with...
My honey managed to stop me buying it just in time.............

 

[Obie]

hehehehe, I really wanted one of those testers too, but not cos I needed it - I just wanted a new gadget to play with...
My honey managed to stop me buying it just in time.............

Gadgets are my weakness too and i cant tell you how close I came to getting one. Glad I asked first though, I can now justify getting the new AFS with the money I saved

 

[Lisaf01]

Gadgets are my weakness too and i cant tell you how close I came to getting one. Glad I asked first though, I can now justify getting the new AFS with the money I saved

hahahahahaha, me too and I was at the same place you were...

Yep, good point about the money going towards the new AFS, I am sure we'll get much more use and enjoyment out of that when it arrives.

 

[Mactavish]

ZTS MULTI BATTERY TESTER

Questions, questions.............

What do you guys think of this for checking and pairing batts?

What can this tell me that a volt meter can't and do I really need it?

If so, is there anything cheaper out there?


Cheers, Obie

If you have the money, it's a great tool. I always wanted a tester that would test a battery under "load", and this meter puts a load on the battery during testing. A volt meter is okay, but without a load it is not very accurate. If you own a lot of batteries, some for other uses, it is a good tool to have, and something to consider if and when you have the extra cash. I love mine and use it to match batteries and to know when to recharge them.

 

[Stormynights]

If you have the money, it's a great tool. I always wanted a tester that would test a battery under "load", and this meter puts a load on the battery during testing. A volt meter is okay, but without a load it is not very accurate. If you own a lot of batteries, some for other uses, it is a good tool to have, and something to consider if and when you have the extra cash. I love mine and use it to match batteries and to know when to recharge them.

Is this the one you use?

 

[Di]

hahahahaha, you guys are all too techie for me,

I dont even know what a voltmeter is -- 8-o8-o

 

[Obie]

If you have the money, it's a great tool. I always wanted a tester that would test a battery under "load", and this meter puts a load on the battery during testing. A volt meter is okay, but without a load it is not very accurate. If you own a lot of batteries, some for other uses, it is a good tool to have, and something to consider if and when you have the extra cash. I love mine and use it to match batteries and to know when to recharge them.

Thank you for the info, very much appreciated

 

[Mactavish]

Is this the one you use?

Yes, bought it here: ZTS Multi-Battery Tester™ (MBT-1)

Lots of pictures of the meter are on this site.

It correctly reads my 3.7 volt lithium batteries, and my 3.0 volt LIFEPO4 batteries. But a NOTE from ZBT: "The rechargeable 3.6V Li-Ion batteries (RCR123A).can be tested on the 3.6V Li-Ion test position.. Please note that the Li-Ion test position is programmed to test the non-regulated output type Li-Ion batteries."

This means this tester will NOT accurately read "REGULATED" batteries, those types that take a higher voltage battery and regulate the voltage DOWN, as some small 3.0 volt batteries do. My 3.0 volt LIFEPO4 batteries do NOT use a "regulator", the 3.0 voltage is achieved by chemistry. So if you have a lot of batteries that are "regulated", this meter is not a good choice. I do not own any regulated batteries so it is not an issue for me.

 

[Stormynights]

Yes, bought it here: ZTS Multi-Battery Tester™ (MBT-1)

Lots of pictures of the meter are on this site.

It correctly reads my 3.7 volt lithium batteries, and my 3.0 volt LIFEPO4 batteries. But a NOTE from ZBT: "The rechargeable 3.6V Li-Ion batteries (RCR123A).can be tested on the 3.6V Li-Ion test position.. Please note that the Li-Ion test position is programmed to test the non-regulated output type Li-Ion batteries."

This means this tester will NOT accurately read "REGULATED" batteries, those types that take a higher voltage battery and regulate the voltage DOWN, as some small 3.0 volt batteries do. My 3.0 volt LIFEPO4 batteries do NOT use a "regulator", the 3.0 voltage is achieved by chemistry. So if you have a lot of batteries that are "regulated", this meter is not a good choice. I do not own any regulated batteries so it is not an issue for me.

You work so hard on battery research. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I am so glad you are a member of the GG Family.

 

[Di]

You work so hard on battery research. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I am so glad you are a member of the GG Family.

yes, I agree Stormy,

Mactavish is a valuable addition, - and very much needed member of the GG family,

her help to others, and her research on batteries, has been very valuable to many members here.

I agree with you,-- she is a valuable addition here to our GG family -

thanks MacT